Avalanche forecast

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
View on map

Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 5 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Triggering a consequential avalanche has become unlikely, but not impossible.  Continue to watch for small sensitive Wind Slabs in exposed extreme terrain. As always, practice safe travel protocols such as exposing one person at a time in case of an unlikely but potentially large Persistent Slab avalanche.   

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    South-westerly winds continue to blow at speeds strong enough to move snow, but after many days of strong winds since the last snowfall, little loose snow is left to be transported.  The southerly and westerly side of ridgelines have mostly been stripped to bare dirt.  That being said, isolated small Wind Slabs may exist that could be sensitive to a human triggered on exposed mid to upper elevation slopes that could lead to a bad fall in consequential terrain. Be wary of smooth drifted snow in extreme terrain that faces NW-N-E-SE, particularly mid-way down cross-loaded chutes.    

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3

    While triggering a Persistent Slab avalanche has become unlikely at this point, we can’t rule out the possibility completely.  Hitting a shallow point in the snowpack with a significant enough force (cornice drop, landing a snowmobile off a jump) may cause a failure, and the resulting avalanche would likely be quite large. Even though danger is LOW, continue to practice safe travel protocols such as exposing only one person at a time and be mindful of steep slopes with shallow rock outcrops where a shallow trigger point may more likely be found.  One way to be sure of avoiding this problem all together is to stick to slopes without old October/November snow, such as below ~9,200’, or south to southwesterly facing slopes at higher elevations. 

Avalanche Discussion

The time has come to drop the Persistent Slab problem to LOW danger. While weak faceted snow still exists in many places at the base of the snowpack, over 5 days have gone by since the last significant loading event or report of avalanche activity.  Pit tests continue to show that failures in these deep facets are possible, but with hard force.  Reports of shooting cracks and whoomphs have dropped off substantially. Our concern over Persistent Slab avalanches will increase again soon with the incoming dramatic new snow-load later this week, which could once again tip the balance.   

Regions covered